Opposing gang members have gone toe-to toe in the ring at a mixed martial arts tournament in Northland.
The event at Portland Community Centre started about 45 minutes late today after a bulk of the fighters and supporters were stopped at a police check point on Portland Rd, the only road in and out of the small rural settlement of Portland, South of Whangarei.
A team of about 30 police officers set up a check point on Portland Rd about 10pm.
Police started checking every car coming in and out of the road and breathed every driver.
Officers checked licences and car registrations as well as photographing most of those stopped at the checkpoint.
There were about ten patrol cars and three booze buses at the checkpoint.
By 10.30am one driver had been found over the legal alcohol limit and at 11.20am a woman wanted on warrants was taken to Whangarei Police Station.
Whangarei and Kaipara police Inspector Justin Rogers confirmed there had been 180 instant fines dished out to those not complying with the law during the four-hour long checkpoint.
Four drivers had their licences suspended while one person was found drink driving. Four people were arrested and three vehicles were seized and impounded by police.
"We've had a successful operation here today. There has been a number of arrests and some vehicles impounded. All in all the attitude has been pretty positive," Mr Rogers said.
He said police did not support such events and did not want to see it become an annual event in Northland.
"If people are going to be holding these types of events then the community can be reassured the police will police them proactively like today."
The event was aimed at bringing gangs together to fight in the ring and sort out issues in that forum following the deaths of five gang members in Northland over the last 12 months.
The event staged at Portland Community Centre was alcohol free but oysters and crayfish were on the menu at the 34 tables each seating 10 people.
During the 20 bouts on the card there was plenty of entertaining match ups. Event spokesman Tokomauri Hoterene laced up his gloves and stepped into the ring.
His opponent got the better of Hoterene, a former Maungu Kaha member based in Otangarei, but he got the biggest cheer from the crowd.
Hoterene left the ring with his white singlet covered in blood , but with a smile on his face.
"This is the way to sort issues and then leave it in the ring," he said while trying to recover from his fight.